Byzant

byzant
    n 1: a gold coin of the Byzantine Empire; widely circulated in
         Europe in the Middle Ages [syn: {bezant}, {bezzant},
         {byzant}, {solidus}]
    

Bezant \Be*zant"\, n. [See {Byzant}.]
   1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in
      weight and value, usually (those current in England)
      between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also
      white or silver bezants. [Written also {besant}, {byzant},
      etc.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Her.) A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold
      coin called bezant. --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt,
      representing circular disks lapping one upon another.
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Byzant \Byz"ant\, Byzantine \Byz"an*tine\ (-[a^]n"t[imac]n)
   n.[OE. besant, besaunt, F. besant, fr. LL. Byzantius,
   Byzantinus, fr. Byzantium.] (Numis.)
   A gold coin, so called from being coined at Byzantium. See
   {Bezant}.
   [1913 Webster]